Coating apparatus



Oct. 2, 1945. Y. A. BOUGE-r comme APPARATUS 2 Shee'ts-Shee't l Filed July 5. 1943 /Na/.E/vro/` KA. BOUGET ATTORNEY Oct. 2, 1945. Y, A, BQUGET 2,386,090

` coATING APPARATUS Filed July 3, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVEN TOR r. A, 6oz/65T gn MM ATTORNEY Patented our. 2, 1945 COA'IING APPARATUS l Yves A. Bouget, West Orange, N. J., assig'nor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a `corporation of New York Application July 3, 1943, Serial No. 493,337 16 Claims. i (Cl. 91-12.5)

This invention relates to coating apparatus,

. and more particularly to apparatus for tinnlng electrical conductors.

In tinning electrical conductors by passing them 'into and out of an open bath of the molten tin,

there exists a thickness of dross upon the bath through which the conductors must travel not only in entering but in leaving the bath. Furthermore, in causing the conductors to travel into the bath they may be disturbed notonly by the frictional contact with elements necessary for the direction of their travel but are further disturbed by having to be bent about such elements during the coating operation. It has been found necessary to eliminate the presence of dross through whichthe conductors to be tinned must pass and to provide only uncontaminated molten tin for the coating of the conductors. Furthermore, to provide a more uniform coating and to make possible satisfactory coating of the `conductors during more rapid advancement thereof, it has been found thatsuchis possible by moving the conductors in a straight path to, through and beyond the coating material. An object of the invention is to provide an efficient apparatus for supplying uncontaminated coating material to a strand during the advancement of the strand in a given plane.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises a coating apparatus having a coating unit with a track therein for the advancement of a strand therethrough and comconsidered in conjunction with the *accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus, a portion thereof being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of the apparatus taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. l, with portions thereof being broken away to show the internal structure thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figi 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

\ Fig. `6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view of one of the coating units of the apparatus. r

Referring now to the drawings, attention is first directed to Figs. l, 2 `and 3, wherein there is illustrated a housingV I0 having a depressed central portion -II terminating short of the ends of the housing, providing openings I2 and I4. 'I'he central portion II is recessed to receive and support a head plate I5,V which is of the width shown in Fig. 2 and extends the full length of the central portioniII (Fig. 1). The head plate I5 in the present embodiment is of a sufficient Width to support six coating units I6 `to 2I inclusive, located thereon by pins 23 disposed at'the position shown in Fig. 1 in the head plate I5, and

.receivable in the apertures shown. disposed in the ends of the units. Thus the units may be accurately located in their respective adjacf nt parallel positions on the head plate.

The unitsl to 2i inclusive are identica'.` in structure and a description of one will apply equally well to all of the units. In the end portion of each unit (Fig. 4 showing the unit I1), a

plurality of compartments is formed by baffles 25 extending angularly from a path for the strand 1 ent from the following detailed description when or conductor 26, to serve in controlling the direction of flow of. the coating material. The bafes and the parallel side walls of the bottom portion of the unit have their surfaces lying in a common plane to rest upon the head plate I5 \and, through the application of suitable pressure, form a uid seal therebetween. The com partmentsiormed in the unit I1 by the bales 25 in the side walls are in pairs identified by reference numerals 21 to 35 inclusive. In actual structure there may be' more compartments disposed upon either side of the central pair of compartments 3|, depending upon the desired length of. the units. The compartments 3l are triangular in general contour andhave pins 31 flxedly disposed in apertures therein for actuating valves hereinafter described. The triangular compartments 3l are also provided with outlets 38` at their vertices for'the passage of a fluid material, such as molten tin alloy, from the compartments to the strand 26. The compartments at the left, namely compartments 21 to 30 inclusive, are formed by their bales 25 to provide pockets tending to check the back flow of the material against the travel of the strand and to provide storing spaces for excess quantities of the material from which the strand is to be coated. AThe compartments at the right of the center, namely compartments 32 to 35 inclusive, lead toward the direction of travel of the strand, so as to aid in the feeding of the material thereto. The inner ends of the bales are so spaced that passage- Ways are provided therebetween in an outer of one of the supports for the aligned path to aid in guiding the strand in a. straight path. These ends of the baffles may also be rounded sufiiciently for the smooth passage of the strand therebetween, without interfering with the application of the coating material thereto but serving as wiping dies therefor. It will also be noted, by viewing Fig. 5, which illustrates a cross-sectional view of the unit l1, that the top walls of the compartments taper upwardly so that the greatest depths of the compartments are at the path of the strand to encourage the material to remain adjacent .the path, yet provide additional space for the excess quantities of the material. Also, a central rib portion 4B of the unit extends the full length thereof, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 7, this rib being provided with notches 4| at the-ends thereof to receive the strand during the threading thereof and the conditioning of the apparatus for use.

Referring now to Figs, 5 and 6, it will be noted that the head plate I5 is apertured at t to receive not only the valve actuating pins 31 but ball valves 45. Valve seats 45 in the adjacent portions of the central portion complete the cavities for. the valves 45. Passageways 41, extending angularly therefrom, provide communication between valve cavities and a main supply passageway 48. The main supply passageway for the unit l1 and those for the other units are vertically disposed in projections 69 integral with the central portion (Fig. 2) and extends a given distance therebeneath.

In addition to the pins 23 receivable in the unit apertures, means is provided to individually hold the separate units in place upon the head plate under sufficient force to form a seal therebetween. This means includes a plurality of cams 50, each rotatably mounted upon a stationary shaft 5|, the ends of the latter being disposed in and xed to brackets 52 integral with or mounted upon the housing I0. Suitable spacers 53 are disposed between the cams 50 for the location of the latter above the rib portions of their resp'ective units. Handles 54, fixed to the cams 50, provide means for the individual actuation of the various cams.

A container 55 for the coating material, namely molten tin alloy, is disposed in the housing and has an outwardly flared integral flange 55, apertured at the corners thereof, to movably receive threaded supports 51. Lower heads 58 of the supports 51, aided by washers 59, support springs 62, which in turn support the container 55 at the adjacent portions of the flange 56. A central portion of each of the supports 51 is threaded as at 64, and is disposed in a threaded portion 65 of the housing I0. A sprocket 66 is disposed upon and fixed to each support 51, these sprockets being operatively connected to each other by a continuous chain 68. Suitable means, such as a crank lever 69, is mounted upon the outer end rotation thereof, and through the sprocket and chain connections, to cause simultaneous and like rotation of all of the supports.

Suitable heating means or units 1|) and 1| are provided to heat the material in the container 55, the heating means extending spirally about the vertical walls of the container while the heating means 1| is positioned across the bottom thereof. The container 55 is divided into an outer chamber 13 and an inner chamber 14 by an expansible and contractable unit 15 cylindrical in general contour and of the cross-sectional contour shown in Fig. 2. The unit 15 surrounds the proiections49 so that the passageways 48 therein will be fed material only from the inner enamber 15. A passageway 11 provides communication between the chambers 13 and 1li,l this passageway being under the control of a valve 18 threadedly supported at 19, guided at 80 and provided with a hand wheel 8l, or other suitable means for its actuation, disposed upon the outer end thereof and positioned externallyof the housing H).

Upon considering the operation of the apparatus, let it be assumed that none of the wires or strands 2S has been threaded and that all of the units I5 to 2| inclusive have been removed from the head plate I5. Let it further be assumed that the container 55 is in its uppermost position with the bottom Wall thereof closely adjacent the lower ends of the projections 49 (Fig. 2) and that the valve 18 has been opened. `With the material in the chamber 13 in a liquid state, through the actuation of the hand lever 69 to cause simultaneous rotation of the supports 51 through the sprocket and chain connections, the container 55 may be lowered, expanding the bellows-like unit 15 until the container is in its lowermost position adjacent .the bottom of the housing I0, During this interval of travel of the container which is brought about by the weight thereof and the contents of the material therein, the valve 18 is open, but the passageways |11 (Figs. 5 and 6) are closed by the valves 45. It is also important that the valves 45 sea1 the chamber 14' against the admission of air. As an added protection against the admission of air, a metallic member of suflicient length to extend across the valves 45, that is their outlets through the head plate I5, and of a suiiicient height to be held down by any desired number of the cams 50, may at this time be employed if so desired. However, the valves 45 will under such circumstances come to rest upon their seats 46, to seal the passageways 41 against the admission of air. 'Ihe next step of the operation is to close the valve 18 through the aid of` the hand wheel 8|, to close communication between the.

chambers 13 and 14.

At this time various wires or strands 2-6 may be threaded through their respective units. In threading the wires, a suitable length of each wire is extended past the exit end of its respective unit and positioned in the path between the ends of the bailies 25, drawn taut and hooked about the ends of the units in the notches 4|, as illustrated in Fig. '1. As each wire is threaded in its unit, the unit thereof is disposed in its respective position over. the pins 23 and locked in place by its respective cam 50, the pins 31 of the unit forcing their respective valves 45 (Fig. 6) open, to open communication between the chamber 14 f and the compartments h1 the unit. 'I'his same series of steps is followed for the threading of each wire in its respective unit. After each wire is threaded and the unit thereof secured in place, the wire may be unhooked from the unit and moved into a straight line for advancement through the unit by any suitable means (not shown).

At this timethe operator actuates the crank v lever 59 (Figs. 1 and 2) to cause simultaneous movement of the supports 51, tending to move the container 55 upwardly. The supports 51 v are moved upwardly their complete or desired distances, .and although the container 55 cannot follow immediately due to the fact that the cham- -ber 14 is lled with material, a desired force is applied to the container to cause it to continue its upward movement as the material from the chamber 14 passes therefrom through the various passageways 48 toward their respective units. The valves 45 having been opened and held in this position by the pins 31, the molten material is forced into the compartments-,3| of each unit and through the passageways 38 toward the wire or strand to be coated. The coating material is thus advanced to the units in greater quantities than can be received by the strands, but these excess quantities are receivable in the compartments upon each side of the central compartments 3|, extending the length of the application portion of each unit, that is the portion where the coating materia1 is applied to the strand, so that the strand may be thoroughly coated with the material. move in' a direction opposite that of the advancement of the wire or strand, the compartments 21 to 3B inclusive, however, being formed to check the passage of the material in this direction, providing pockets for retaining the material. These pockets are formed by battles 25, which Portions of the coating material also provide spaced edges limiting the passageway to a size sulicient for the passage of the strand and to limit the escapement of the material. The various groups of arrows in the illustration shown in Fig. 4 demonstrate the possible passage of the coating material, illustrating that in the compartments back of the initial points of application of the material at the passageways 38, the material is directed into the pockets and away from the outlets, whereas in the compartments 32 to 35 inclusive the contours of the baffies direct the material toward the outlets and quantities of coating material maintained free of undesired particles and free of air throughout the coating operation.

It is preferred that strands or Wires of equal length be coated simultaneously, so that the threading operation may be performed all at one time. However, it may be possible that the strands or wires may be of various lengths and in such instances it is possible to remove any one of the units i6 to 2l .inclusive without disturbing the continued coating operation performed by the other units during the re-tl'iread-` Ving of the rst mentioned unit. By removing the empty unit, the valves 45 thereof are closed upon the removal of the pins 3l, to seal the passageways 48 linked Atherewith against the escapement of liquid from the chamber 1li.v The wirev may be readily threaded through the unit and the unit against disposed in position and locked in place. It requires but a few seconds to thread each unit and to continue its function, the coating of the strand.

It will be apparent that there are not heating elements immediately adjacent the units I6 to 2| inclusive. Such heating elements are not necessary in view of the fact that the units and the head plate l5 are disposed within the heating range of the elements 'l0 and 1l, the material being maintained in a fluid state through the heat from these heating elements. Furthermore, the function of the units in providing a series of compartments upon each side of the entrance or initial application points (38) for the material, causes pre-heating of the strands by the material to assure uniform coating operations.

Although specic improvements of the invention have been'shown and described, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of `this invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An apparatus for coating strands comprising a'coating unit formed for the advancement of a strand therethrough and having an inlet for a coating material for coating the strand; a supply of the coating material, an expansible and contractable chamber having a exible wall, means affording communication between the chamber and the said inletjand means actuable to alternately expand and contract the chamber to respectively draw a quantity of the material from the supply into the chamber and force material from the chamber through inlet into the y unit.

2. An apparatus for coating strands comprising a coating unitformed for the advancementof a strand therethrough and having an inlet for a coating material for coating the strand, a

supply of the coating material, an expansible and contractable chamber having a exible wall, a valve actuable to control communication between the supply and the chamber, and means actuable to alternately expand and contract the chamber to respectively draw a quantity of the material from the supply into the chamber and force material'from the chamber through inlet into the unit.

3. An apparatus for coating strands comprising a coating unit formed for the `advancement of a strand therethrough and having an inlet for a coating `material for coating the strand, a supply of the coating material, an expansible and contractable'chamber, means affording communication between the chamber and the said inlet, means actuable to expand the chamber to draw material from the supply into the chamber, means actuabie to afford communication between the chamber and the supply, and means to apply a force to the chamber-urging contraction thereof to force the material therein through the said communicating means, the inlet and into the unit about the strand.

4. An apparatus for coating strands comprising a coating unit formed for the advancement of a strand therethrough and having an inlet for a coating material for coating the strand, a container for a supply of coating material, an

expansible and contractable chamber disposed inthe container and xed thereto, means to cause lowering of the container to cause expansion of the chamber, means actuabie to open communication between the container and the chamber for the filling of the chamber with the material, and means affording communication between the chamber and the said inlet.

5. An apparatus for coating strands comprising a coating unit formed for the advancement of a strand therethrough and having an inlet for a coating material for coating the strand, a container for a supply of coating material, an expansible and contractable chamber disposed in the container and fixed thereto, means to cause lowering-of the container to cause expansion oi the chamber,'means actuable to open communication between the container and the chamber for the filling of thev chamber with the material, and a valve actuable to control communication between the chamber and the said inlet. m

6. An apparatus for coating strands comprising a coating unit formed for the advancement of a strand therethrough and having an inlet for a coating material for coating the strand, a container for a supply of coating material, an eX- pansible and contractable chamber disposed in the container and fixed thereto, means to cause lowering of the container to cause expansion of the chamber, means cooperating with thelast mentioned means to apply a force to the container to move it upwardly and contract the chamber, and means actuableto open communication between the container and the chamber for the drawing of the material into the chamber from the container and to close communication therebetween.

7. An apparatus for coating strands comprising a coating unit formed for the advancement of a .strand therethrough and having an inlet for a Jcoating material for coating the strand, a container for a supply of coating material, an expansible and contractable chamber disposed in the container `and fixed thereto, means to cause lowering of the container to cause expansion of the chamber, means cooperating with the last mentioned means to apply a force to the container to move it upwardly and contract the chamber, and means actuable to open communication between the container ,and 'the chamber for the drawing of the material thereinto from the bottom of the container and toclose communication therebetween.

8. An apparatus for coating strands comprising a coating unit formed for the advancement of a strand therethrough and having an inlet for a coating material for coating the strand, a containerfor a, supply of coating material, an

. expansible and contractable chamber disposed in the container and xed thereto, means to cause lowering of the container to cause expansion of the chamber, means cooperating with the last mentioned means to apply a force to the contain- Jer to move it upwardly and contract the chamber,

means actuable to open communication between the container and the chamber for the drawing of the material thereinto from the container and to close communication therebetween, and means affording communication between the chamber and the said inlet.

9. A'napparatus for coating strands comprising a support, adjacent'to which a strand is advanced longitudinally, having an outlet therein for a coating material, means to force the coating material through the outlet and onto the support, and a unit having aligned passageways therein for guiding the strand and recesses cooperating with the support to form compartments for thematerial to surround the strand.

10. An apparatus for coating strands comprising a support, adjacent to which a strand is advanced longitudinally, having an outlet therein for a coating material, a valve adapted to' close the outlet, a unit disposed on the support adapted to guide the strand and cooperating with the support to direct the coating material thereto, and

means carried by the unit to move the valve into open position..

11. An apparatus for coating strands compris- 5 ing a support-adjacent to which a strand is advanced longitudinally, having an outlet therein for a coating material, a valve adapted to close the outlet, a unit disposed on the support adapted to guide the strand and cooperating with the support to direct the coating material thereto, and means carried by the unit to move the valve into open position when the unit is disposed onthe support.

12. An apparatus for coating strands comprising a support having an outlet therein for a coating material, means to force the coating material through the outlet and onto the support, a unit having ,passageways therein to receive a strand and a recess to cooperate with the support to form a compartment for the material to surround the strand, and means carried by the unit to hold the strand in thepassageways during positioning of-the unit on the support.

13. An apparatus for coating strands compris- `ing a support having an outlet therein for a coating material, means to force the coating material through the utiet 'and onto the support, a

. unit having passageways therein to receive a strand'and a recess to cooperate with the sup- 80 port to form a compartment for the material to surround the strand, means carried by the unit to hold the strand in the passageways during positioning of the unit on the support, and means to removably secure the unit in place on the support.A

14. An apparatus for coating strands comprising a support having an outlet therein for a coating material, means to force the coating material through the outlet andonto the support, a

40 unit having passageways therein to receive a strand and a recess to cooperate with the support toform a compartment for the matera! to surround the strand, means carried by the unit to hold the strand in the passageways during poto removably hold the unit on the support to cause forming of a iiuid tight seal therebetween.

15. An apparatus for coating strands comprising a support, adjacent to which a strand is advanced longitudinally, having an outlet therein -for a coating material, means to force the coating material cthrough the outlet and onto the support, a unit having strand guiding passageways therein and spaced recesses to cooperate with the support to form compartments longitudinally of the advancing strand, and means to removably secure the unit to the support.

16. An apparatus for coating strands comprising a support, adiacent to which a strand is advanced longitudinally. having an outlet therein for a coating material, means to force the coating material through the outlet and onto the support, a unit having strand guiding passageways therein and spaced recesses to cooperate with the support to form compartments longitudinally of the advancing strand, the passageways affording communication between the compartments, and means to removably secure the unit to the support. 70 YVES A. BOUGET.

sitioning of the unit on the support, and means 

